Priests For Life

June 30, 2014

Staten Island, NY – Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and a plaintiff in Priests for Life’s lawsuit challenging the HHS mandate, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell.

“The Obama administration has repeatedly shown itself to be on the wrong side of religious freedom, on the wrong side of the Constitution, and on the wrong side of America. Today’s decision demonstrates that once again. Citizens, who have religious freedom individually, do not lose it when they act collectively. Today’s decision takes our nation in the right direction.

“But the Supreme Court, while correctly deciding that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects the religious freedom of the Green family and others who own their own businesses, does not resolve the problem that religious groups have with the so-called ‘accommodation.’ In the government’s view, that accommodation should satisfy our objections. But the ‘accommodation’ still requires a kind of cooperation that our faith does not allow. The Hobby Lobby decision only emphasizes the urgency and importance of pursuing Priests for Life’s own appeal against the HHS mandate.

“Mr. David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby has stated, ‘As our Hobby Lobby case represents the concerns of businesses, so the Priests for Life case represents the concerns of the religious non-profit groups. Together, we stand against this injustice, and for the law of God.”

The text of today’s decision carries the following statement in the syllabus, which expresses exactly what we have been saying all along: “It is not for the Court to say that the religious beliefs of the plaintiffs are mistaken or unreasonable.”

“Religious freedom rights are human rights and the only way one can lose them is to cease being human. Priests for Life will continue to fight the Obama administration’s oppressive and unjust attempt to suppress religious liberty.”

Dr. Alveda King, full time Director of African American outreach for Priests for Life, plaintiff in Priests for Life’s lawsuit against the HHS mandate, and author of the new family book King Rules said of today’s decision –

“No one should have to deny God to obey a bureaucratic mandate – not in America. The Court has recognized that we are all free to worship God as we see fit and that we don’t lose that freedom when we build a business. This should apply fully to non-profits as well. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is not above the Lord.”

Bryan Kemper, Youth Outreach Director for Priests for Life, commented on the Hobby Lobby decision as well with the following statement:

"Today we celebrate freedom; we celebrate this ruling handed down by the Supreme Court in favor of religious freedom. SCOTUS has given us hope today as they upheld the rights of Americans to be free from the tyranny and oppression of our government when it comes to our faith.

"The Obama administration tried to force Hobby Lobby’s owners to violate their consciences and faith with the HHS mandate, an intrinsic evil that would force Americans to pay for abortion causing drugs. We at Stand True and Priests for Life celebrate the Court’s affirmation of Hobby Lobby’s religious rights and patiently await a ruling in our case."

For more commentary, details of our case, and information on religious freedom, go to www.IStandWithPFL.com.